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Biology Graduate Salaries in California

Federal earnings data for every California college offering Biology, ranked by 10-year median graduate salary. Sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — real tax-reported income, not surveys.

Median earnings
$70,804
10 years after enrollment
Highest-earning school
$166,642
California Institute of Technology
Schools analyzed
50
in California

Biology in California. Biology is the standard pre-med major. Research opportunities and pre-health advising at the undergraduate level meaningfully affect medical school admission rates.

Typical career paths: Pre-Med (with med school), Biomedical Researcher, Genetic Counselor, Pharmaceutical Scientist, Public Health Specialist. Median starting salary range: $50,000–$85,000. School choice can swing graduate earnings by 30–60% — which is why we rank by federal data, not prestige.

Top Biology schools in California by graduate earnings
Ranked by 10-year median earnings · all schools have a Biology program
#School10-yr earningsNet price/yr
1California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
$166,642$8,509
2Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA
$164,248$39,347
3Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA
$127,532$26,039
4University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
$100,212$14,538
5California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
$96,304$18,832
6University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
$96,197$14,794
7Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA
$90,053$35,567
8University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
$88,581$14,659
9University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
$86,999$14,318
10Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
$86,034$50,518
11University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
$83,432$13,866
12University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
$82,568$16,807
13Chapman University
Orange, CA
$80,694$46,708
14Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
Los Angeles, CA
$79,596$31,400
15Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
$78,572$27,235
16California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
$77,620$26,445
17California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
$77,464$9,404
18Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA
$75,789—
19University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
$74,115$20,523
20National University
San Diego, CA
$73,988$24,008
21California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA
$73,868$6,858
22University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
$73,362$18,549
23University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA
$72,974$12,672
24Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA
$72,184$29,761
25Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA
$71,595$22,597

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are 10-year median income for graduates of each institution (all majors, since program-level earnings are released only for select fields). Refreshed every 24 hours.

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Frequently asked questions

What do Biology graduates earn in California?

The median 10-year earnings for Biology graduates from California colleges is $70,804, with a range from $39,944 at lower-earning schools to $166,642 at top-earning schools. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Which California school has the highest Biology graduate salary?

California Institute of Technology ranks first among California schools offering Biology, with a 10-year median graduate salary of $166,642.

How is "graduate salary" measured?

These figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. They reflect actual federal tax-reported income of all graduates 10 years after enrollment — including those who pursued graduate school and those who took industry jobs. They are not survey-based.

Are these salaries adjusted for cost of living?

No. These are raw federal earnings figures. California salaries should be considered in context of local cost of living. For example, $90,000 in California has different purchasing power than $90,000 in North Carolina.

Disclaimer: DecideMyCampus is an independent information aggregation service — not a licensed counselor, advisor, or educational consultant. All data is sourced from publicly available U.S. federal databases (College Scorecard, IPEDS) and is provided for informational purposes only. We do not promote or endorse any institution. Rankings are algorithmic outputs based on federal data — not professional evaluations or guarantees of outcomes. We are not responsible for any college admission, financial, or enrollment decision made using this site. Always verify information directly with institutions and consult licensed professionals. Full Terms · Privacy · Cookies